Una fecha bautismal in Junin

¡Hola familia y amigos!

Oh, it´s good to have a P-day to rest and write. This week has been kindof long, but lots of blessings as well.

Well, first off we met a wonderful new investigator named Andrea. She´s the cousin of a recent convert, and he´s the one that first talked to her about the gospel and the missionaries (that´s the best way to do the work of salvation - members inviting their loved ones). The first time we met her we sat down in her house with Carlos (the recent convert) and got to know her. She´s had a rough family life, but is very religious and always has tried to make better choices for her life. Then she asked us to explain baptism to her. Well, if you say so! As you might imagine we happily explained a little about baptism and the authority to baptize, and how that authority was lost in the Apostasy. We came back and taught the full Restoration. Then the third time my companion said we should read the Book of Mormon with her, since she hadn´t read yet. So we read 3 Nephi 11 which explains the gospel of faith, repentance, baptism, and the holy ghost. Asking her what she understood she was like, "Yes, I understand. I have to get baptized." It was totally the Spirit and the power of the Book of Mormon. So now she has a baptismal date for June 11.

Oh, so my bike has been making weird sounds for a while now. It´s had me pretty worried. Well this week the problem behind the sounds finally became evident as the axel of my back wheel broke. I couldn´t even pedal. And did I mention that we were about an hour away from the apartment walking? Haha, yeah, but whatever. elder Tingey and I got to know each other better. I´m using the branch president´s bike until mine gets fixed.

The branch of Junín is wonderful. We, the other missionaries, and the branch presidency are working to try and get church attendance up and the hometeachers moving. The branch really lacks a lot of leadership positions, which makes it a struggle to keep it going. But with work and faith we´ll be able to get what we need and strengthen the members here.

This week I tried to use the Sacrament better. I thought more about jesus christ and prayed harder for repentance. As I did that and partook of the bread and water I literally felt a little bit lighter. That´s what the Atonement does for us.

Thanks to all for being who you are. Thanks for the many letters and prayers.

Con amor,

Elder Blake

Dedicación del Templo de Córdoba!

¡Hola familia y amigos!

This week was super! Why? Because yesterday the second House of the Lord in Argentina was dedicated in Córdoba. Now with two operating temples, the wonderful Argentine saints can more easily receive ordinances of salvation that are necessary for them and for their families already passed away. The dedication was transmitted to chapels in all of Argentina (and maybe other parts of SudAmerica?), so we got to watch it with the members here. There was a special spirit while watching the dedication. President Uchtdorf and Elder Christofferson came to dedicate the temple. Elder Christofferson served as a missionary here long ago, so he speaks Spanish very well. it was cool to listen to him. President Uchtdorf tried, and it reminded me of myself 9 months ago in the MTC. But their talks were really awesome. Pres. Uchtdorf made mention of the Sol de Mayo (May Sun) that is centered in the flag of Argentina, which shines brightly for all Argentinos. Then he counceled us to make the Temple our Sol de Mayo. I really liked that imagery, and it´s true. Temples and Jesus Christ, whose house they are, are what bring light and life to us. Without them we would not exist nor could we gain salvation.

Well, that´s all for this week. Les amo a todos! I hope you have a great week.

Con amor,

Elder Blake

1. Puesto del sol in campo

2. Junín

3. Toilet in the chapel. Gotta love SudAmerica where toilet seats seem "optional" after they break off

4. Elder Kelley with a recent convert, Matías. Matías has reserves of energy, and sometimes he´s a little annoying, but he´s such a great person and I love him.

5. Biking behind Elder Kelley

Traslados

¡Hola familia y amigos!

Well, another week has flown by in Argentina. Lots of stuff is going on. Firstly, I "killed" another compañero (i.e. I was his companion when he finished his mission). So, I´m waiting and working in another area near the offices until transfer meeting on Wednesday where I´ll get my new comp. And for now, guess where I am. I´m in the same zone where I started my mission, Marcos Paz! I´m not in the same ward, but I still see a few places where I went months ago with my trainer. It´s really weird, but fun. My best memories are still here in this zone. And I heard that an investigator that I taught with my trainer got baptized yesterday! Ah, I´m so happy for him. he was and is a great dude, and now he gets to enjoy the blessings of the evangelio restaurado with his wife.

This Wednesday I´ll return to Junín with my new comp. There is a lot of work to be done in our branchcita in Junín to help the members be more united and reach out to each other, especially with hometeaching. That`s something that is lacking in many parts of the country, just because of the culture. But, with faith all things are possible. We`re going to have a branch councel this Sunday and I hope that together we`ll find a solution.

I was reading about Hope today in PMG and in the scriptures. I found a passage in Hebrews 6:11-15 that I really liked. I can´t quote it all from memory, but it talks about how if we work diligently and patiently, and are not lazy, we can have the hope that the promises of the Lord will be fulfilled. Go and read it and see what you think. I´ll try to be thinking about it this week as well.

Know that God lives and loves you all. This gospel is real and this church is true.

Con amor,

Elder Blake

Another Week in Junin// May 11

¡Hola familia y amigos!

happy Mother´s day! En serio, moms are the most wonderful creations of our Heavenly Father. it was so great to talk to my mom and family yesterday through skype. Thanks to all of the family for being there. ¡Les amo!

This week was nice. We had a zone meeting on Tuesday, so my comp and I, along with the four sisters who share our branch in Junín, traveled by bus to Chivilcoy, another small city about 2 hours away. it was a good meeting and we learned a lot. The practices we did for contacting and teaching were pretty fun.

We had a lot of appointments fall through this week, so that wasn´t too fun. We had to spend a lot of time biking from house to house trying to make contact with possible or past investigators. So far, not much progression. Oh well.

As a branch we´re super excited for this sunday, because the temple dedication of the new Córdoba, Argentina Temple will be broadcast to all the chapels in Argentina. I got to see a dedication broadcast while I was in the MTC, so I know this one will also be really cool.

The past few weekends we´ve been doing service painting a local school. The project was organized and carried out by the company of our branch president. Many of his work partners and jovenes (youth) from the branch came to help out. This weekend we finished painting, and to celebrate the President´s partners cooked us all asado (argentine bbq). It was so awesome.

Well, that´s pretty much all for this week. I love you all. Thanks for being who you are. Keep moving forward!

Con amor,

Elder Blake

New Area - Compo!

¡Hola familia y amigos!

How are you all? I´ve loved reading your letters this week. I´m glad to hear you´re all doing so well.

I was so excited to hear about Cam´s and Bryan´s graduations. You two are super capos (studs), and great examples to everybody. I hope you had/will have wonderful celebrations and good starts to your next steps in life. Tell me how it goes. God really does know, love, and bless us. I hope that we can all realize a little more His hand in our lives.

That´s something that I thought as I left Aldo Bonzi. After going through so much and having so many experiences there, I felt somewhat like Nephi when he said to the angel, "I know not the meaning of all things, but I know that God loveth his children." That´s true! Never forget it, even when you feel down or lost.

I am now in a smaller city in the middle of campo se llama Junín. It´s about 4 hours west of Buenos Aires. It´s so beautiful here, and a totally different feel than Buenos Aires and it´s millions of suburbs. Todo tranquilo. My companion is Elder Ryan Kelley from Mesa, Arizona, and he´s a stud! He´s always laughing and telling funny stories - in the apartment, in church, in the streets and on our bikes. Yep, we´re on bikes. I feel more connected to Dad now, since he rode everywhere in Holland. It´s great because we can cover much more ground.

We´re share a little rama (branch) of about 50 active members with two sets of sister missionaries. The members are very nice, especially the Branch President, President Cortéz. We have a lot of work to do, though. We need to find new and good investigators a fúll and help them progress to baptism. We´ve also got plenty of reactivating to do. As a mission we´re trying to focus on priesthood holders and families. If we put in our part, it will come to pass.

Love you all. Keep being awesome. Thanks for your constant love and prayers.

Con amor,

Elder Blake

Hugo Breggi, our recent convert in Aldo Bonzi (He still prays like an evangelicist. It´s so funny :)

Campo near Junín

Me and Elder Kelley in the cyber.

Last Week in Aldo Bonzi // April 20

¡Hola familia y amigos!

How are you all? What are you up to? This week has been pretty good. We´ve been blessed to find a new family of three, Manuel, Pati, and Cristopher. They´re from Perú. It was amazing how they understood the message of the Restoration. At the end of that lesson Manuel asked if the Pope had authority and Pati was the one to answer him, reminding him how God´s priesthood authority had been lost totally in the Apostasy! haha.

Also, Hugo was interviewed by the bishop to receive the aaronic priesthood. He got emotional when he told us. He´s very humbled and excited to have that responsability. He´s a stud, and will do great.

This week my companion and I were given the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting. We both talked about the law of the fast, and it went well.

Lastly, we recieved the transfer announcements this morning. Elder Blake is being transfered! Wednesday will be the changes and in a week from today you´ll all hear where I end up.

Thank you all again for your love, your prayers, thoughts, and everything. I know God lives and loves us, and that we are His hands. YOU are His hands reaching out to me. If I haven´t responded a personal email that you sent me, know that I read it and am grateful you sent it. I love you all, and more importantly, so does He!

Con amor,

Elder Blake

Aldo Bonzi con tres Conversos // April 13

¡Hola familia y amigos!

Aldo Bonzi had a great week. There were 3 baptized! One of whom, Hugo, was taught by us, and the other two by the sister missionaries who share the ward. The baptismal service was great. Hugo slipped when I put him under, but he got all the way under and that´s what matters :) I forgot my camera, so pictures will have to come next week.

My time is running out. sorry for the short letter. I hope you all have a great week! God bless you all.

Con amor,

Elder Blake